Ramu project landowners want govt to fulfil commitment

THE people of Raicoast district in Madang province have told the government and the Ramu NiCo officials last week that they need the Ramu project and expressed concerns to have a regular consultation between all parties to see the smooth running of the project, which will result in  mutual benefit for all.
Elders and village leaders, totalling more than 80 from the Basamuk refinery plant, gathered at Meindre village to meet with government officials from Mineral Resource Authority (MRA), Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC),  Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazard Management and MRDC last Thursday.
As part of its ongoing consultation, the delegation was at the village to carry out awareness programme and procedures involved in obtaining mining licence and environmental permit.
Basamuk Landowners Association chairman Lima Mullung said the people of Meindre, Ganglau and surrounding villages, where the Basamuk refinery plant is situated, want the project to go ahead.
However, they want the government and the company to fulfil their commitments soon.
Some of the issues include MoA review, Land Title Commission (LTC) hearing and off-loading of contracts and spin-off business opportunities.
He said the people of Raicoast district had been neglected by successive governments and with this project, they see it as an opportunity to benefit from and move forward.
MRA representative and Ramu nickel project coordinator Carter Oiee told the villagers that the government had allocated money and, at the same time appointed commissioners for LTC hearing to decide on the landownership disputes.
He assured the people that the issue was of utmost importance given the importance of the project to the nation and the people and would take the matter up for special consideration.
The landowners were assured of regular consultations to ensure some of the issues were addressed before the commission of the project.
The assurance came after the villagers expressed concern that they were ignored by the government for regular consultation, though Ramu NiCo project is of great importance to the social and economic development of both the country and the province.